Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SYRINGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to
a disposal system for needles and syringes, and more
particularly to a needle/syringe disposal system
which incorporates a cutting device for cutting the
needle/syringe into small pieces which may be
separated for recycling, and a self-contained
sterilization and decontamination system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Devices for destroying and disposing of
used syringes are well known in the art. In one type
of syringe disposal system, a container is provided
for disposing of used syringes. For example, U.S.
Patent No. 5,038,929 discloses a syringe disposal
system which comprises numerous elongated aligned
receptacles for receiving sharp instruments. Each
container contains a curable liquid in which the used
syringe is inserted. The liquid then cures, sealing
the syringe in the hardened material. Other examples
of such containers are shown, for example, in U.S.
Patent Nos. 1,280,687 and 5,172,808.
In another type of syringe disposal device,
an apparatus is provided for breaking off or
rendering useless the needle of the syringe. U.S.
Patent No. 3,469,750 discloses an apparatus which
incorporates a pair of coaxially movable shearing
blades. A syringe is inserted in the device, and the
blades moved relative to each other for shearing the
needle from the cannula, and the cannula from the
syringe body. Another such device is shown in U.S.
Patent No. 4,275,628 which includes lever driven
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blades which sever the needle and cannula from the
syringe.
U.S. Patent No. 3,736,824 discloses an
elongated receptacle for receiving the cannula and
needle of a syringe. A lever is provided for
severing the needle, which falls into a receptacle.
U.S. Patent No. 4,332,323 discloses a device for
bending the needle of a syringe thereby rendering it
useless. U.S. Patent No. 5,212,362 discloses a
further apparatus for rendering useless the needle of
a syringe. This device includes electrical means for
killing infectious agents which may be present on the
needle.
In order to improve upon the manually
operated devices for destroying syringes, U.S. Patent
No. 4,565,311 discloses an electrically driven
apparatus for destroying used syringes. A pair of
blades is provided which are moved by a motor driven
linear actuator to cut the syringe into three pieces.
Other motor driven disposal devices are
shown, for example, in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,926,379;
5,054,696; 4,619,409; and 4,269,364.
Each of these devices include shortcomings
that are overcome by the needle/syringe disposal
system of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a needle/syringe
disposal system for cutting a needle/syringe into
small pieces (preferably 1-2 mm or less) for disposal
or recycling. The system is contained in an enclosed
hollow housing which has an inlet for inserting a
needle/syringe to be destroyed. The inlet extends
between the exterior of the housing and one or more
rotating cutting blades inside the housing. The
cutting blades are rotated by a motor and are adapted
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for cutting a needle/syringe inserted through the
inlet into small pieces by continuous rotation of the
cutting blade.
A disposal tray is located below the
rotating cutting blades) for receiving the ground up
needle/syringe pieces. The system preferably
includes one or more rotating blades which cut the
needle/syringe into small pieces.
A pump is provided for pumping a
disinfecting solution, preferably a mixture of
chlorine bleach and water, from a disinfecting
solution supply to the inlet area. The disinfecting
solution is sprayed into the inlet and flows through
the cutting area. Thus, the inlet, the
needle/syringe pieces, the cutting blade and the
disposal tray are continuously disinfected. In a
preferred embodiment, the disinfecting solution is
pumped from the disposal tray. In this embodiment,
the solution serves the added function of separating
the parts of the needle/syringe in the disposal tray,
since the plastic pieces of the syringe will float,
and the metal parts of the needle will sink in the
solution. The housing of the system may be opened to
enable the disposal tray to be removed from the
housing.
An automatic timer may be used to keep the
cutting blade rotating for a sufficient amount of
time to fully grind the needle/syringe. A timer may
also be used to keep the pump operating for a
predetermined amount of time after the needle/syringe
has been ground.
A portable embodiment of the invention is battery driven directed to
an inlet chute for a syringe disposal system which comprises:
a hollow outer chute having an entry end and an exit end;
a hollow inner chute having an entry end and an exit end, the inner
chute being slidable within the outer chute;
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a door for opening and closing the exit end of the inner chute; and
means for automatically opening the door while raising the inner
chute for enabling a syringe to fall through the exit end of the inner chute,
and
for closing the door once the syringe passed through the exit end of the inner
chute into a cutter.
~3RIF~~ DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1. is a schematic front view of the
needle/syringe disposal system of the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the
needle/syringe disposal system of the present
invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic top view of the
needle/syringe disposal system of the present
invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the
exterior of the needle/syringe disposal system of the
present invention.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the
exterior of the needle/syringe disposal system of the
present invention which utilizes an alternative type
20 of inlet.
FIG. 6 is a schematic top view of an
alternative embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of
an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a top view of the blade housing
of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a side view of the blade housing
of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of
the blade housing of the present invention through
30 sectiow A-A.
FIG. il is an exploded view of the blade
housing of the present invention.
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FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view of
an alternative embodiment of the invention in which
the device is portable.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
As shown in FIGS. 1-12, the present
invention is a self-contained device for cutting
needles, syringes and the like into small pieces
which may be easily separated for recycling, and for
sterilizing the otherwise contaminated pieces of the
needle/syringe. While the device will be described
with respect to disposal of a syringe, it is
understood that syringe will be understood to refer
to syringes, needles, and combinations thereof.
The system includes a motor 4 which drives
one or more cutting blades 6. An inlet 8, preferably
located in the top of the disposal device, is aligned
with the cutting blades 6 so that a syringe 2 may be
inserted through the top of the device and ground by
cutting blades 6. Depending upon the types of
cutting blades 6 in use, the syringe may be drawn
into the cutting blades by the force of gravity, or
may be pulled into the device by the rotating action
of the blades 6.
Motor 4 is a conventional electrically
driven motor which may be powered by batteries 100,
preferably a conventional 14.4 Volt battery pack, in
a portable unit (FIG. 12), or plugged into a
conventional wall outlet (not shown) in a non-
portable embodiment (FIGS. 1-6). If desired, a
transformer may be provided which would enable the
device to be operated in either a permanent plugged-
in mode or a portable mode. Electrical connections
to the motor 4 may be by any means conventionally
known in the art. Motor 4 may be air driven if a
source of air is provided.
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Motor 4 preferably directly drives the
cutting blade 6 by means of a shaft 102 (FIG. 3). In
an alternative embodiment, indirect drive means, such
as a gear or gears 104 (FIG. 12) or a belt, chain
pulley, or other drive means may be used to drive the
blades 6. In a preferred embodiment of the
invention, using the preferred blade, blade 6 is made
to spin at approximately 1500-2000 rpm, and more
preferably 1800-2000 rpm. The function of gear drive
means 104 is to increase or decrease the blade speed
to the desired speed.
Below the cutting blades 6, an outlet 24
directs the ground pieces of the syringe to a
recovery tray 10 toward the bottom of the disposal
device. The recovery tray 10 preferably has in it a
disinfecting liquid, discussed in detail below, which
kills all harmful agents on the ground syringe parts.
Cutting blade 6 may be any type of rotating
blade known in the art which would slice, grind, or
chop the syringe body and needle into relatively
small pieces, on the order of 1-2 millimeters.
Preferably, the depth and number of the teeth, and
the speed at which the blade is rotated are
established so that the blade cuts the syringe into
pieces of 1-2 mm, and so that the motor is able to
maintain blade speed and not bind. With too many
teeth, the blade will not be able to catch the
syringe to cut it.. With too few teeth, the blade
tends to bind. The teeth are angled at an acute
angle B with respect to the fixed cutter (described
below) so that the teeth provide a continuous cutting
action, like a scissor, rather than chopping the
syringe as in the prior art, e.g., U.S. Patent No.
4,269,364. The angle B is preferably in the range of
15-75 degrees, and more preferably in the range 15-45
ANft~~ED SH~E~
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degrees. In a preferred embodiment, as shown in
FIGS. 9-il, blade 6 preferably includes 16 teeth,
each at a 30 degree flute angle, and is constructed
of M2 high speed steel. Each blade tooth is on the
order of 0.15" deep, and the total blade diameter is
preferably about 1.75". It is foreseen that the
teeth may be straight, i.e., parallel with a
longitudinal axis of the blade, and the fixed cutter
angled with respect to the blade to provide the same
continuous cutting action.
Blades 6 may also be, for example, a
helical or worm gear, which continuously cuts the
syringe body. As shown in FIGS. 7-10, blade 6 is
preferably contained in a blade housing 106 that is
constructed of aluminum or other appropriate
material. The corners of the inlet housing are
preferably rounded to keep syringes from becoming
jammed in the corners and from jamming the blade. A
cutter 108 is preferably attached to the blade
housing 106 by means of screws or other attachment
means. The syringe is preferably cut between the
rotating blade teeth and cutter 108. Cutter 108 may
be adjusted if desired by loosening the attachment
screws and moving the cutter. The edge of cutter 108
adjacent to the blade may be sharpened, if desired.
As previously discussed, the cutter may be angled
with respect to the blade teeth to provide, alone or
in conjunction with angled blade teeth, the
aforementioned continuous cutting action.
Alternatively, the syringe may be cut
between the rotating teeth and a wall of the inlet 8.
If more than one blade is used, the blades could
cooperate for cutting the syringe between them (FIG.
6). In this embodiment, the blades would rotate in
opposite directions and would draw the syringe into
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the inlet 8 by the downward directional movement of
the gears where they meet. If two or more blades are
in use, a conventionally known gear box for
synchronizing the blades may be used to connect the
blades to the motor 4.
Recovery tray 10 is preferably filled with
a disinfectant solution in the non-portable
embodiment of the invention (FIGS. 1-3). Due to the
specific gravity of the materials which comprise a
typical syringe, after the ground syringe pieces fall
into the disinfecting solution, the plastic fragments
of the syringe will float to the top of the liquid in
the recovery tray 10, and the metal fragments of the
syringe needle will fall to the bottom of the
recovery tray 10. This enables the plastic and metal
parts, which are disinfected by the disinfectant
solution, to be separated for recycling.
A pump 16 is provided for circulating a
disinfectant solution throughout the disposal device.
In a preferred embodiment, the pump 16 includes an
intake 20 which draws the disinfecting solution from
the recovery tray 10. The disinfecting solution is
pumped through an outlet tube 18 into the inlet area
8. A nozzle may be provided for spraying the
solution into the inlet area. In this manner, the
syringe is immediately treated with a disinfecting
solution as it is inserted into the inlet. Also, the
inlet 8, the cutting blade 6, and the outlet tube 24
are continuously disinfected by the flow of
disinfecting solution.
If desired, the intake 20 to pump 16 may be
inserted into a separate disinfecting solution
supply, i.e., a bottle or tray full of fresh
disinfecting solution. The recovery tray 10 may then
be inserted into the system either empty or partially
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empty and as the fresh disinfecting fluid is drawn
through the pump and passed through the inlet and
cutting areas, it will fill the recovery tray.
The disinfecting solution may be any type
conventionally known in the art, and may vary
depending upon the types of infectious agents which
are to be killed. In a preferred embodiment, the
disinfecting solution is a mixture of chlorine bleach
and water. Preferably, the disinfecting solution
includes a concentration of free chlorine per liter
of water of 50-10,000 parts per million.
Once a syringe has been ground, it is
preferred to keep the disinfecting solution flowing
through the inlet and cutting area for at least 10
minutes in order to kill any remaining infectious
agents in these areas. Thus, a timer may be provided
which is either automatically activated when a
syringe 2 is inserted through the inlet 8, or may be
manually activated by a conventionally known switch.
The timer keeps the pump 16 running for a
predetermined amount of time after the syringe has
been ground and assures that the unit is properly
disinfected. A timer may also be provided for motor
4 which is automatically activated when a syringe is
placed through the inlet 8 or which may be manually
activated. In the automatic embodiment, when the
syringe 2 is inserted through the inlet 8, the motor
4 and the pump 16 will each be activated. A
predetermined time after the switch has been
activated, say one minute, the motor 4 will turn off
and the pump 16 will continue to operate for a
further predetermined amount of time, preferably ten
minutes or more. The timing circuit may be any
suitable timing circuit known to those skilled in the
art. In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5,
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the inlet 8 may be covered by a hinged door 40. The
opening of hinged door 40 could initiate the timing
circuit using a conventional switch.
In an alternative embodiment, (FIGS. 7 and
12), the syringe is inserted into a hollow inner
inlet chute or feed tube 110 which includes one or
more handles 112 located at the top of the inner
inlet chute. Inner inlet chute is open at each end,
and is covered at the end nearest the blade by a trap
door 114 which is rotatably connected to the inner
chute so that the door may open and close as
described below. A cam arm 116 is attached to the
trap door so that as the arm is rotated upward, the
door will close, and as the arm is rotated downward,
the door will open. The cam arm 116 is biased upward
by a spring 118, so that the door will return to the
closed position in the absence of outside forces on
the cam arm 116.
The inner chute 110 is movable within an
outer chute 120 that is sized to enable the inner
chute to be insertable therein and removable
therefrom with little play. Outer chute 120 is also
generally rectangular and open at each end. A trap
door cam 122 is provided on the outer chute,
positioned above the cam arm 116. Trap door cam is a
protuberance, peg, or other raised portion suitable
for biasing cam arm 116 as the inner chute is lifted.
As the inner chute 110 is lifted, cam arm 116 will
contact with trap door cam 122, thereby applying a
downward force on cam arm 116 and causing the trap
door to open. Once the trap door opens, the syringe
falls into contact with the rotating blade, and is
disintegrated. It is necessary to lift the inner
chute sufficiently so that the cam arm no longer
contacts the cam, which will result in the closing of
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the trap door under the bias of the spring. The trap
door and inner chute may then be used as a pusher to
push the syringe into the blade as the inner chute is
pushed downward. Once the trap door closes, pieces
of the syringe cannot be thrown out of the inlet.
An automatic on/off switch 124 is provided
at the top of the outer chute. When the inner chute
is pushed all the way into the outer chute, the
handle 112 will press down on the on/off switch,
moving the switch to an off position. When a syringe
is to be disintegrated, the inner chute is lifted,
thereby turning on the motor so that the blade will
be spinning at full speed when the syringe comes into
contact with it so as to prevent the blade from
binding. The chute is lifted past the cam, at which
point the trap door opens, and past the top of the
cam, at which the trap door closes. The inner chute
is then pushed down until the on/off switch is turned
off.
The cam 122, the cam arm 116, and the
spring may be located on the inner side of the outer
chute (not shown) or an the outer side of the outer
chute (FIG. 7). In the latter embodiment, a slot 126
permits the cam arm and spring to pass therethrough
the outer chute and allows upwards and downwards
movement of the inner chute. Cam arm 16 is
preferably constructed of a resilient material so
that as the inner chute is pushed down in the outer
chute once the trap door has closed, the cam arm will
bend slightly so as to clear the cam 122: Trap door
cam 122 is preferably position so that the syringe
will fall entirely out of the inner chute as the trap
door is opened. Moreover, trap door cam 122 need
only be a peg or the like provided that it has
sufficient strength to bias cam arm 116.
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As shown in FIG. 7, if desired, assuming
that shaft 130 and motor (not shown) are supported by
means of a bearing assembly, or other support is
provided as will be appreciated by those skilled in
the art, the entire feed chute assembly, including
the inner and outer chutes 110, 120 and the blade
housing 106 may be rotated back and forth in the
direction A. This feature enables the device to be
used by multiple personnel that dispose of many
syringes and that work in close proximity to one
another, for example in blood banks. Each user could
rotate the feed tube toward them prior to using the
device.
The device is preferably constructed of
plastic and metal materials, or any other non-
corrosive materials suitable for the present
application. As shown in FIG. 4, if desired, the
present syringe disposal system may be housed in a
self-contained portable unit having a carrying handle
26. In order to insert and remove disposal tray 10
or the optional disinfecting solution storage
bottles, the lower portion of the housing 28 is
hinged for exposing the interior of the device. A
latch 30 allows the housing door 28 to be opened and
locked.
In a highly portable unit, FIG. 12, the
device does not use a disinfection system, and may be
attached to the belt of a user, or carried around the
neck.
In order to reduce the tendency of the
disinfecting solution or the ground syringe parts
from being ejected or splashed out through the inlet
8, the interior of the syringe disposal system may be
vacuum pressurized. A vacuum pump located inside the
housing would pump air from the interior of the
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housing to the exterior of the housing through a
vent. This would cause the pressure inside the
housing to be lowered causing air to be drawn in
. through inlet 8.
Although the present invention has been
described in detail with respect to certain
embodiments and examples, variations and
modifications exist which are within the scope of the
invention as defined in the following claims.
